Notes from the Nest: Cardinals vs. Seahawks
Oct 23, 2016, 5:31 PM | Updated: 9:09 pm
(AP Photo/Matt York)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Seahawks are in town and guess what, it’s a big game.
The Cardinals host their rivals from the Pacific Northwest in a matchup that will go a long way toward deciding at least part of their fate. The Seahawks come in with a 4-1 record and if they leave with a win, will have for all intents and purposes probably locked up the NFC West.
For the Cardinals, who are 3-3, a victory would give them three wins in a row, be their first home win over Seattle since 2012 and put them squarely back in the conversation for being one of the NFC’s best teams.
The Cardinals are without John Brown (sickle cell trait), while the Seahawks are missing safety Kam Chancellor. Carson Palmer, who missed a couple days of practice with a hamstring injury, is set to play.
Seahawks won the toss and chose to defer, so Cardinals will get the ball first. Let’s go.
End of game
Cardinals give up a first down and the Seahawks moved into easy field goal range, though Hauschka missed and this game is crazy.
1:36 left in overtime
Wilson finds Kearse deep down the field and the Seahawks are in Arizona territory, now witha 3rd and 3 at the 36. It’s a very long field goal from here, but makeable.
2:00 left in overtime
Apparently there is a two minute warning in overtime. Anyway, the Seahawks have a 3rd and 4 from their 26. How is this game still happening?
3:19 left in overtime
And you know what? Catanzaro donks it off the upright, the ball doesn’t bounce through and the game plays on. Wow. Seahawks take over at their 20 and if you’re the Cardinals’ defense, you have to find a way to rebound and come up big because you expected to win just now and still have work to do.
3:26 left in overtime
Johnson runs around the left side and nearly punches it in but is ruled down at the 1. A run that goes nowhere makes it 3rd and goal from the 1, and the Cardinals send the field goal unit out there. A delay of game now makes it 3rd and goal from the 6. Catanzaro with a chance to win the game right here.
4:22 left in overtime
Cardinals burn a timeout to set this up. A field goal wins it, so you don’t have to punch it in.
4:54 left in overtime
Facing a 3rd and 7, Palmer has time and finds JJ Nelson, who races down to the Seattle five.
Still 6:42 left in overtime
Kickoff is a touchback and the Cardinals’ offense will take over at the 25. Do they have one more scoring drive in them? Find a way to win the game here and whatever transpired previously, while frustrating, will be OK.
6:42 left in overtime
Cards force a field goal though on third down it looked as though Tony Jefferson may have gotten away with a hold on Graham. Hauschka drills a 36-yard field goal, and now the next score wins.
8:31 left in overtime
Seahawks now at the Arizona 24 as the Cardinals are suddenly offering little resistance. Wilson has been finding Jimmy Graham, and the Cardinals are paying for it.
Still 11:23 left in overtime
Kickoff is a touchback and Seattle begins at its 25.
11:23 left in overtime
On 3rd and 5 Palmer found an open Floyd, but the receiver dropped the ball and forced the Cardinals to go for the field goal. Catanzaro was good from 45 yards out, and the Cardinals have a 6-3 lead and, if they hold off the Seahawks, a 6-3 win. Up to the defense now.
11:39 left in overtime
With time to throw Palmer found Michael Floyd for 18 yards, with the great throw coming between a pocket of defenders. Cardinals move down the field and a 2nd and 5 throw to JJ Nelson deep in the end zone falls incomplete. Physical defense, maybe a flag?
12:59 left in overtime
A good David Johnson run was followed by a 22-yard pass to JJ Nelson, but a couple of plays that went nowhere have the Cardinals facing a 3rd and 10 from the 50.
15:00 left in overtime
Cardinals take over at their 25. A touchdown wins it. A touchdown at any other point in this game would have won it.
End of regulation
Seahawks got out to midfield but a couple of holding penalties push them so far back that they decide to play for overtime, which is where we are heading. Score is 3-3.
Remember, in OT now the first team with the ball does not win on their initial drive unless they score a TD. A field goal and the other team has a chance to respond.
1:09 left in fourth quarter
Punt is caught by Lockett who is drilled at the 22. Seahawks take over with a chance to win.
1:16 left in fourth quarter
A 2-yard loss on a Johnson run meant the 10-yard completion to Floyd was not good enough for a first. On third down Johnson was stuffed, so the punting team is out once more. Last time they tried this didn’t work out so well.
2:00 left in fourth quarter
A sack left the Cardinals with a 3rd and 12, but Palmer found Michael Floyd on a dig route for 16 yards and a big first down. Ball is now at the Arizona 38. Cardinals have all three timeouts left.
Still 4:00 left in fourth quarter
So here we are. Cardinals take over at their 25 following the kick, now needing at least one more score to win the game. The cost of missing out on scoring opportunities is being paid at this time.
4:00 left in fourth quarter
A hold on Seattle negated a nice passing play and essentially doomed the drive, but Hauschka came on and connected on an ugly looking 40-yard field goal to tie the game. Seattle’s drive went all of 0 yards, yet the game is now tied.
Cardinals have cost themselves a lot of points today, and their special teams has been responsible for some pain, too.
4:33 left in fourth quarter
A good David Johnson run is wiped out by a hold on Jermaine Gresham, then Palmer is sacked and though Johnson picked up 13 on third down, it wasn’t nearly enough. Quigley’s punt is blocked by Tanner McEvoy, and just like that the Seahawks are in field goal range. Seahawks take over at the Arizona 22.
7:11 left in fourth quarter
Punt is a good one and Golden returns it to the Arizona 39. You feel like everyone in the building knows Seattle’s penchant for pulling out wins when they probably shouldn’t, so the Cardinals — up 3-0 — still have work to do. One touchdown, again, would probably be enough. But have to get it.
7:32 left in fourth quarter
Seahawks moved the ball a little but then Chandler Jones got to Wilson and stripped the ball away. It bounced back toward the end zone, where center Joey Hunt recovered at the one. On third down Wilson hit Doug Baldwin for 13 yards, but they need much more than that for a new set of downs. So, Jon Ryan is out to punt.
9:07 left in fourth quarter
Cards get nothing after a short pass was followed by a couple of incompletions, the final one seeing Fitzgerald get lit up by Richard Sherman as he tried to make the catch. Probably would have been short of the first anyway, though.
Quigley’s punt bounces at the one but rolls into the end zone, so the Seahawks take over at their 20.
10:02 left in fourth quarter
Cardinals get a stop when the Seahawks get a first down but then go backwards as Bradley Sowell holds (Golden beat him bad on the play) and then at that point had nothing doing. Kevin Minter made a great open field tackle on one play and that was that. Defense really playing strong.
Punt is a good one that takes a Cardinals bounce, albeit near a couple of Arizona players who were fortunate not to have the ball go off them. Offense takes over at the Seattle 49 and really you feel like one touchdown would be enough here.
13:02 left in fourth quarter
Looked like the Cardinals were in business when a David Johnson run put them inside the 20, but it was called back due to a Michael Floyd hold and the Cardinals, on third down, could not convert. So, Quigley came on to punt and he got off a good one. Seahawks take over at their 7.
End of third quarter
Cards pick up a first down with some good David Johnson runs and then gain 24 in a great pass from Palmer to JJ Nelson. A Johnson blitz pickup saved that play and gave Palmer the time to find and hit Nelseon, and just like that the Cardinals are back in Seahawks territory. They lead 3-0 but really could use more, if only to give the defense a bit of a safety net over the last 15 minutes.
2:46 left in third quarter
Cardinals force a three-and-out though not without some drama on third down after Wilson caught his own pass but was tackled before the marker and recovered his own fumble on the play. Both teams were flagged for pulling players off of the pile. Ryan’s punt is caught by Golden, who is wrestled down at the Arizona 20.
4:28 left in third quarter
Cardinals do go for it and give the ball to Johnson, who is stopped short of the marker and that’s a turnover on downs. Arians is aggressive, yes, and if they get the first and go on to score a TD it looks like a brilliant move. But in a game where your defense has been dominant, take your points (assuming Catanzaro makes the kick).
Anyway, the Seahawks will take over at their own 18 and maybe have a bit of momentum as the Cardinals once again come up empty.
4:34 left in third quarter
The Cardinals still have the ball, by the way. David Johnson has had some monster runs — not in yardage total, but in just carrying Seattle defenders — and Palmer has been efficient with his passes. The Cardinals have a 4th and 1 at the Seattle 18, where the Seahawks just burned a timeout as the Cardinals appeared ready to go for it. I’d kick the field goal, personally, but that’s just me and I write for a living.
10:14 left in third quarter
Seahawks moved the ball some and were in business until a first down pass was negated by offensive pass interference. Facing 1st and 20, Christine Michael ran for a one-yard loss and then on 2nd and 21, Bradley Sowell was flagged for a false start. A couple of short passes later and the Seahawks punt, with the ball sailing out of bounds at the Arizona 24.
Cardinals offense back on the field and looking to follow up a decent last-minute drive with one that actually ends in points.
14:54 left in third quarter
Lockett takes the kickoff from deep in his end zone and gets to the 28, which is where the Seahawks’ offense will take over.
End of first half
Palmer throws deep to JJ Nelson but incomplete, and then is sacked and fumbles the ball. Earl Watford recovered and the clock expired, but there were flags on the field after a scrum near the pile. Turns out there were offsetting penalties — one on the Cardinals for throwing a player off the pile and one on the Seahawks for a personal foul — and time runs out.
So, the Cardinals are up 3-0 though it seems like the lead should be greater.
:31 left in second quarter
Disaster almost happened after a Palmer pass to Johnson was batted in the air and picked, but a defensive hold on Richard Sherman negated the turnover and gave the Cardinals a first down. An incomplete deep ball to JJ Nelson was followed by a nine-yard gain where Jermaine Gresham gave a great stiff-arm to Jeremy Lane, and on third down a Johnson run moved the chains. Palmer it’s Larry Fitzgerald for 9 and the Cardinals are in Seattle territory, albeit barely.
1:29 left in second quarter
Cardinals dodge a bullet when Tyrann Mathieu is beat by Doug Baldwin on a third down catch only to have the Seahawks go back due to a hold. They get the stop on the ensuing third and long, and the Seahawks punt. Golden returns it to the Arizona 25, and the Cardinals, with one timeout, may try to add a few more points before the end of the half. We’ll see, though. In a game that your defense is dominating the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that gives the Seahawks a short field.
2:00 left in second quarter
Seahawks get a first down with some good Christine Michael runs, but an incomplete pass follows as tony Jefferson made a nice play to knock the pass away. So, it’s second down now for Seattle at its own 29.
3:06 left in second quarter
Kickoff is returned to the Seattle 17, where Justin Bethel made a great tackle to limit things. That’s where the Seahawks will take over.
3:11 left in second quarter
Cardinals got the first down with a David Johnson run, but from there didn’t go anywhere as Palmer threw a tough ball to Johnson down the field that was forced into coverage (but fell incomplete) and then another incomplete pass to Larry Fitzgerald was followed by a pass to Fitz that went nowhere. Catanzaro came on for the field goal attempt and was good from 46 yards out, so the Cardinals — who have dominated this half — finally have a little something to show for it.
It’s 3-0, home team.
6:53 left in second quarter
A couple of Andre Ellington runs have the ball in Sehawks territory as the Cardinals now face a 3rd-and-3 from the Seattle 47.
Not related but important: Patrick Peterson just ran back from the locker room to the sideline.
8:58 left in second quarter
Cardinals get a first down on a quick pass to David Johnson and then, a couple plays later, Palmer narrowly avoids the sack and flips the ball to Johnson, who picks up six yards and a first down. The Cardinals now have a fresh set of downs at their own 46.
Other notes: Darren Fells was back on the sideline doing some work and testing his ankle, which caused him to the leave the game. Jaron Brown just exited toward the locker room.
11:35 left in second quarter
Seahawks got their first first down of the game with a 10-yard pass from Wilson to Paul Richardson, but went no further after a Jimmy Graham drop was followed by a couple of incomplete passes. On the last one, Patrick Peterson (who was not involved in the coverage where the ball went) got up slow and has since jogged to the locker room.
Seahawks punt, and Cardinals take over at their 19.
13:20 left in second quarter
Palmer just misses David Johnson in the end zone when it appeared he may have been interfered with some. On third down, Palmer has the ball hit by Avril just as he’s about to throw to a wide open Andre Ellington, who would have run for a while. Catanzaro’s field goal attempt is blocked by Bobby Wagner, who leaped over the long snapper and got in there. Would be a penalty if he touched Aaron Brewer, the snapper, and he may have grazed him. The refs didn’t see it, though, and Arians tried to challenge but lost a timeout because he’s not allowed to challenge that call.
Seahawks take over at their own 31 and this game just got weird.
End of first quarter
Palmer scrambles and runs (just because it’s not fast doesn’t mean it’s not running) for eight yards. Guess his hamstring is OK? Anyway, when play resumes the Cardinals will be facing a 2nd-and-2 from the Seattle 25.
:29 left in first quarter
Besides a short pass to Jimmy Graham the Sehawks did nothing, and on third down pressure forces him to throw it away. Patrick Peterson fields a short punt and returns it to the Seattle 33. Great field position for the Cardinals.
2:14 left in first quarter
Cardinals pick up a couple first downs with some good David Johnson runs and a pass to Michael Floyd, but drive stalls at midfield when Palmer is sacked on third-and-seven. Quigley gets off an excellent punt this time, however, and it rolls before being downed at the Seattle one. It was a 53-yard kick, and this would be a good time for Arizona’s defense to make a big play.
7:59 left in first quarter
Cardinals continue getting after Wilson, who is not sacked but was pressured into some bad throws and then knocked down after getting rid of the ball. Arizona forced a three-and-out, and weren’t really challenged in that series. Good punt from Jon Ryan is fair caught by Patrick Peterson at the Arizona 13.
8:56 left in first quarter
Well so much for that next drive. Palmer, under pressure and throwing off his back foot, threw short to Jermaine Gresham who was open but couldn’t get down and make the catch. He probably should have, though. A two-yard run from David Johnson was then followed by a pass to Brittan Golden that should have been caught for a first down, but instead bounced off his hands incomplete.
Another short punt from Ryan Quigley means the Seahawks take over at their own 40. Cardinals losing the field position game so far.
9:53 left in first quarter
Cardinals bring pressure on first down and nearly get to Russell Wilson, who evades Kevin Minter to throw the ball away. Seahawks picked up nine yards on a quick pass to Baldwin, but on third down Wilson faked the handoff and tried to get to the edge only to be met by Tony Jefferson, who read the play perfectly and dragged the QB down for a two-yard loss. Seahawks punt, and Brittan Golden is tackled at the Arizona 21.
11:24 left in first quarter
Palmer hit David Johnson for a gain of 10 and then Michael Floyd for eight, but they needed 10 and were forced to punt. The kick from Ryan Quigley wasn’t a great one, but it took an OK bounce and is downed at the Seattle 17. Cardinals flipped the field some, but shot themselves in the foot when it looked like they were rolling. Story of the season, really.
But if there is a real positive from that drive — besides moving the ball some — it was that Carson Palmer looked sharp.
12:58 left in first quarter
Cardinals pick up a first down on a 17-yard pass to Fitzgerald after a David Johnson run for no gain, but after a short pass to Fitz are backed up to their 32 when Michael Floyd is called for pass interference on a play that went for a first down to JJ Nelson. It’s 2nd and 20.